Taliban Urges Afghan Media for Extensive Coverage of Government Activities Amid Press Freedom Concerns
Naeem-ul-Haq Haqqani, head of the Taliban’s Information and Media Center, announced the launch of a new program titled “Government in the Mirror of the Press” during a meeting with domestic media managers, urging broad media coverage of the initiative. He described the role of media as crucial and influential in reflecting the activities and what he termed the “achievements” of the Taliban administration.
The meeting, held at the headquarters of the Taliban’s Information and Media Center, was titled “Coordination with Media Managers.” According to Haqqani, strengthening mutual interaction and cooperation, facilitating the flow of information, and improving the coverage of the Taliban’s programs were the main topics discussed.
However, this request comes amid extensive restrictions imposed on media activities in the country since the Taliban’s return to power. Severe censorship, new regulations, and limitations on women’s participation in media are among the measures repeatedly criticized by organizations supporting freedom of expression.
In the past five years, dozens of journalists and media workers have been detained and imprisoned by the Taliban due to their professional activities. Currently, Bashir Hatef, Shakib Nazari, Hamid Farhadi, Mohammad Rahmati, and Abu Zar Sarim are among journalists still held in Taliban prisons.
Earlier, the Afghanistan Journalists Center reported on World Press Freedom Day that it had documented at least 150 violations of media freedom and journalists’ rights in the past year. The exile-based independent media support organization (NI) has also stated that under current conditions, “there is no freedom, including freedom of expression” in Afghanistan.
The organization added that domestic media operate under pressure and coercion and are unable to cover events such as crackdowns in provinces including Nangarhar, Kunar, Panjshir, Andarab, Balkh, and Kapisa. According to this group, the media’s focus on covering Taliban officials’ meetings and programs is a result of the restricted and controlled environment dominating the country’s news activities.
